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5 cutting-edge restaurants to try now in Austin

A photo of Red logo
by OpenTable team
Updated December 21, 2022

Austin brims with creative residents who march to the beats of their own drums. After all, the city is famous for its “Keep Austin Weird” slogan, conceived by longtime residents in the 1990s who felt Bat City was losing its bohemian charm. Austin may not exude the same funky vibe it once did, but it continues to lead the country in the innovation department—there’s a reason scores of tech giants are headquartered here.

Austin’s restaurants and bars reflect its fiercely independent spirit. A farm-to-table favorite in an East Austin butcher shop serves only local fare. A beloved North Central trattoria, known for its housemade everything, also champions fair wages. A late-night brasserie with an exceptionally prolific vinyl selection—and a legendary royale with cheese—doubles as an artists’ haven.

Whether you’re seeking hyperlocal and sustainable menus, stunning interiors, or a progressive approach to staffing, these restaurants have it all. Here are five cutting-edge spots keeping Austin not just weird, but also delicious.

A photo of L'Oca d'Oro restaurant
4.5
4.5 (1542)
$50 and over
Italian
North Central
About the restaurant
This extraordinary Italian trattoria whips up everything from scratch, including its pastas, breads, cheeses, vinegars, and even herbal liqueurs. It also stands out for chef Fiore Tedesco’s regional pasta club, a subscription-only service that offers a monthly bundle of fresh noodles complete with sauces, a fresh cheese or antipasti set, at least two signature pantry items, fresh salumi, signature condiments, and more. But the “golden goose” (what the restaurant’s name means in Italian) is a true trendsetter for championing fair wages and ethical employee treatment. It pays its staff a living wage, eliminating the need for tips; it also offers paid sick leave, rare for the industry. When the historic Texas winter storm struck in 2021, Tedesco and co-owner, Adam Orman, [put their kitchen to work](https://blog.opentable.com/loca-doro-austin-pandemic-story/), feeding thousands. L’Oca d’Oro’s commitment to the local community, be it area farmers, diners, or food banks, is nothing short of admirable.
Top review
LaurenVIP
Dined on Dec 15, 2024
Our dinner last night was so lovely. We're parents of a toddler so we don't get out much. We had a babysitter and decided to use a gift card for one of our past favorite restaurants. Everything was absolutely delicious. We started with the rosemary sourdough bread with butter, escarole and Frisee salad, and Polpette meatballs. The bread has a great flavor and good texture. Every aspect of the salad was incredible - the dressing, the grapefruit, the honey Aleppo almonds. And the Polpette were some of the best meatballs I've tried. We really enjoyed the chicken milanesa and the black pepper Pappardelle dish had amazing texture (all their pastas are made in-house) but I feel could have had a more interesting flavor. I had really wanted to try the Tiramisu, one of my favorite desserts, but we were so stuffed. All the wine and cocktails were tasty. We sat on the patio since we wanted to order off the A la carte menu but it was so quiet and dead outside. Some music or something piped outside might have been nice. We used to frequent L'Oca d'Oro before the pandemic and before having kids, but we hadn't been back since Fall 2019. I was happy to see the ways in which the restaurant pivoted during the pandemic and all that they have done to care for their employees, very admirable. Overall, we really loved our meal and we will happily be back!
A photo of Lucky Robot restaurant
4.7
4.7 (1192)
$31 to $50
Japanese
Bouldin Creek
About the restaurant

This unassuming Japanese place on South Congress innovates in more ways than one. It was the first restaurant of its kind in Austin to incorporate Peruvian Nikkei dishes; in 2019, it became the first sushi place in Texas to partner with the James Beard Foundation and Monterey Bay Aquarium’s sustainability programs. Now, executive chef Jay Huang (who comes from some of Austin’s best kitchens including Uchi and TRACE at W Austin hotel) uses sustainably sourced seafood, implementing Austin’s only dry-aging fish program, a 200-year-old Japanese culinary tradition that elevates flavor and texture. Through a new dry-aging chamber, Huang modernizes the tradition with Lucky Robot’s market fish program, along with select specialty catch selections from the restaurant’s domestic fisheries partnerships


Top review
Melanie
Dined 1 day ago
Great first time experience! Would have loved a little acknowledgment of my son's birthday! Usually get a little something from other places! But did not deter from great food and ambiance!
A photo of Canje restaurant
4.9
4.9 (2101)
$31 to $50
Caribbean
East Austin
About the restaurant

At Caribbean-inspired Canje, acclaimed pastry chef Tavel Bristol-Joseph (of other area hotspots such as Emmer & Rye, Hestia, and Kalimotxo), ventures into new territory, steering the full menu, not just the desserts. Expect modern riffs on dishes from Jamaica to Puerto Rico, marking the first time Bristol-Joseph is sharing his upbringing on the menu. Canje grabbed national attention after being featured on the New York Times’s 50 Best Restaurants of 2022 list, thanks to avant-garde, seasonally inspired dishes such as striped bass with tamarind, rum butter, green mango, and papaya. The wild boar pepper pot with cassareep (a seasoning made from cassava root and spices), orange peel, and ginger, is a house specialty. A tropical-tinged cocktail selection adds to the unique, plant-filled atmosphere.


Top review
Brooke
Dined 3 days ago
This was our second time eating here, and it was so much better than I remember (and I remember falling in love with the food)! Our server was so kind and helpful, the food was phenomenal -we got the ceviche, Jamaican bread and cheese, pepperpot and roti on the side- and the drinks were amazing (the First Dance is my favorite cocktail all time). I highly recommend this restaurant, especially if you want to try a new cuisine that you don’t see in every city!
A photo of Dai Due restaurant
4.7
4.7 (2184)
$31 to $50
American
East Austin
About the restaurant

At this trailblazing butcher shop and restaurant, all ingredients, including wine, beer, and cider, are sourced from Texas. James Beard Award winner chef Jesse Griffiths is an avid hunter and fisherman, and his love for all things local shines in his whole animal butchery and nose-to-tail cooking approach. Dai Due’s menu changes daily, showcasing locally foraged or grown ingredients. The kitchen dries, cans, pickles, ferments, smokes, candies, and freezes the local seasonal bounty with an unmatched, pioneering spirit. In addition to the unique, made-in-Texas experience, the East Austin standby also offers butchering classes and hunting camps with Griffiths himself.


Top review
OpenTable Diner
Dined on May 11, 2024
Best burger EVER! We sat in the booth up front with 6 people and it was a delightful meal to celebrate my son's graduation.
A photo of Justine's Brasserie restaurant
4.8
4.8 (816)
$31 to $50
French
East Austin
About the restaurant

The blackboard specials change daily at this charming, one-of-a-kind Parisian brasserie. Set in a refurbished 1937 East Austin bungalow, Justine’s is known for its exquisite indoor/outdoor space, decked with crystal chandeliers, blue velvet curtains, and assorted art. The menu includes traditional bistro fare such as onion soup, butter-soaked escargots, beef tartare, steak frites, and the crowd favorite, the royale with cheese, a French-style burger served on a housemade bun. Owned by photographer Justine Gilcrease and her musician husband Pierre Pelegrin, Justine’s is an exceptionally eclectic haven for local and visiting artists who enjoy late-night drinks and bites while listening to Pelegrin’s vast vinyl collection.


Top review
Drew
Dined on Nov 17, 2024
What an incredible experience, the food was amazing the ambiance was incredible and the service was top notch. I made a mistake with my reservation of 8 and they were able to accommodate what I thought was the proper time. Such a delightful experience. Can’t wait to come back. ✌️✌️
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